NONPROFIT
OUR MISSION
914UNITED Inc. emerged in 2020 to serve on the forefront of advocating for the youth and the formlery incarcerated residing within the Lower-Hudson Valley. We champion the philosophy that it takes a village to raise a child and a team to achieve success. In this spirit, we deliver a team of seasoned role models whose genuine dedication and community value lies in supporting and mentoring those living within at-risk environments. Our aim is to assist youth in successfully transitioning into adulthood and provide returning citizens with essential support to sustain productive living.
OUR MISSION
914United Inc. is a program-based mentoring non-for-profit organization working to educate, empower, and enrich the youth and the justice-involved within the Lower-Hudson Valley. We champion the philosophy that it takes a village to raise a child and a team to achieve success. In this spirit, we deliver a team of ``Real Model`` and Reentry Mentors whose dedication and community value lies in supporting and uplifting those impacted by socio-economic inequities. Our aim is to assist youth in successfully transitioning into adulthood and provide returning citizens with essential support to sustain productive living.
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OUR WORK, OUR VISION
914United Inc. presents the Leaders Build Leaders Initiative. This initiative includes interactive, seminar-based programs such as manhood training, financial literacy, civic engagement, & women empowerment. As an incentive, it provides internships in various professions as well as gift sponsorships from local establishments and community organizations--proffering committed participants free services to personal care, entertainment, adventures, and more. In addition, we have a team of Reentry Mentors - who returned from incarceration leading to successful lives - dedicated to providing guidance to the Justice-involved. We envision a society where positive mentors offset negative environmental influences; where the underprivileged communities receive the institutional and community support in navigating life challenges; where retributive justice no longer exist.
OUR VALUES
Inspired by the belief that we must help one another, we value the role of community support in uplifting those in need. No greater value exists than caring for the less fortunate. It is with the mindset of WE that build communities and improve the welfare of the people.
PAST ACTIVITES
GOING BEYOND OUR MISSION
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STAND AGAINST SYSTEMIC RACISM
Our team supports the fight against systemic racism and police brutality. We stand in solidarity with the young leaders who rise up and contest the…
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CARE FOR THE HOMELESSNESS
During the COVID-19 crisis, our team organized an homeless outreach project in the City of Yonkers. With the support of family, friends, residence, and public…
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SUPPORT THOSE IMPACTED BY COVID-19
Our team raised money to extend support and appreciation to the essential workers serving on the front-line of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the onset of…
THE CO-FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
PROFESSIONAL & PASSIONATE
A dedicated community servant, Jonathan Alvarez is a Youth Advocate and Community Activist in the City of Yonkers. He’s a 32-year-old life-long Yonkers resident who promotes the philosophy that change agents, change narratives. After serving a 13-year prison term, he returned home with a mission to give back to the same community he once negatively impacted. He is motivated by his transformative experiences within the criminal justice system. At age 17, he went away with a tenth-grade education. During his incarceration, however, he acquired a GED and later achieved a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies from the Bard Prison Initiative program. His educational journey and personal metamorphosis have inspired him to be a productive contribution to society.
VIEW MORETHE CO-FOUNDER & Asst. Director
DEDICATED & DETERMINED
John Cabrera is a life-long Yonkers resident who cares for community and for those in need. His drive to serve others stems from an understanding of family support. During his adolescent years, he nearly spiraled down the wrong path by flirting with the street life and consequently experiencing a overnight stay at the city jail for a low-level crime. But friends and family steered him in the right direction. He completed High School and moved on to study Business Management at Monroe College and then transitioned into Mechanical Engineering at Manhattan College. Due to the birth of his first child, John had to leave school to take care of his family. His crutch during this pivotal moment - beside family - was the church. It was at this time that he adopted the Christian faith more devotedly than ever and experienced the true meaning of giving back. He volunteered his time in the capacity of Young Adult and Outreach Leader at Harvest Fields Community Church, conducting community outreach to the youth and the homelessness.
VIEW MOREOur Partnerships Drive Our Success
WANT TO SUPPORT OUR MOVEMENT
We are always looking for new partnerships and better ways to advance our mission. Also, we love to say hello.
Thank you @yonkersyouthbureau for inviting us to your board meeting and allowing...
Nov 24
Thank you @yonkersyouthbureau for inviting us to your board meeting and allowing us to share what 914United is about. We look forward to building a long lasting relationship with you and coming together to better serve our community.
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Shout out to @dwanita_crosby for your support! Your recognition is what brought us to this amazing table of leaders!
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Let’s get to work!
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#914united #yonkersny #westchesternonprofit #nonprofit #yonkers #leadership
Last night we co-organized and attended the 9th Annual Coat Drive and poetry night at (@yonkersarts_space) presented by (@collective_for_a_cause). The event was hosted by @phylliv_ and sponsored by many community groups including 914United, Jasmine Hernandez (@jasny2la), Que Paso Latinx (@quepasolatinx), @weartone1 , @juicesforlife , @cafe2.0yonkers, @thepowerlab, @opexriverdalenyc & more. We received nearly 70 coats of all sizes that contributed to the 300+ coats collected for those in need in the community. Shout out to all the donors!
What an amazing experience to see raw talent by local artists including: Vincent Hill & his brother Zachary all the way from Brooklyn (@vhill_poetry & @trumpetkid_ ). Dilson (@dilson.music ) who spoke from the heart – coming from the Bronx and making a seamless connection to the Yonkers community by just using his words and guitar. Crystal who led the night by passionately sharing her pieces with us and bringing a vibration of peace to the crowd (@ytcl.nyc ). S/O to @phylliv_ for selecting the dope talented artists and for sharing her own amazing poetry. Poetry followed by a large meaningful donation of coats spoke volumes last night.
We contribute to these events to demonstrate our motto to our people: “you’re not alone”. Together we will keep 300+ people warm this winter.
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#914United #westchesterunited #coatdonations #coatdrive #poetrynight #poetry #donate #yonkers #nonprofitsunite #nonprofitorganization
This past Saturday we launched the 2nd cohort for the STEM Alliance's Digital Equity Now initiative - focusing on Google Suite applications as well as Website Design and Personal Branding tools. The goal is to address the digital divide impacting Black, Brown, and underserved communities that have faced long standing social inequities. This is such a powerful initiative that 914United is proud to be a part of. We want to ensure that justice involved individuals have an equal opportunity to securing promising futures.
If you or someone you know would like to take advantage of this program - send them our way for the next cohort beginning in 2022. Let's start sharing the knowledge because knowledge is power, and our mission is to teach our community that leveling up is always possible no matter when you decide to start.
Shout out to the Stem Alliance for their partnership in increasing the digital health of our community.
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@thestemalliance @att
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#914united #digitalhealth #digitalequity #westchesterny #yonkersny #educate #nonprofit #returningcitizens #nonprofitorganization
Bringing it back to our stomping grounds!
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Our Co-Founders Jonathan and John visited Lincoln Highschool to speak to a group of 40 students about their role as community organizers and the importance of civic engagement - a difficult yet important concept and practice to teach our youth.
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914United has revised its civic engagement 5-week curriculum to expose, engage, educate, and empower our youth to the many forms of civic participation. Our hope is to inspire them to be change agents in their communities. The 5-weeks cover civic engagement in the form of Music/Rap, Art, Policing, Community Organizing and Politics - with a required project to complete at the end of the course.
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We’re working with our partners at Lincoln HS and @yonkersmbk on this initiative - as we continue to mentor the youth by assisting them along their individual journeys.
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S/O to MBK and YPS (@yonkerspublicschools) for letting us in the door to build our youth.
Civic skills provides our youth with the right to represent their own interests. We encourage them to be active in our community. After these seminars are taught, our youth will be equipped with the knowledge to participate in our society. When citizens are engaged, they can exchange ideas, invest in finding solutions and partake in civilized action to address the issues facing their communities.
If you want to learn more about this initiative - please contact us at Info@914United.org.
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#914united #civicengagement #nonprofit #westchester #yonkersny #lincolnhighschool #empower #engage #educateouryouth
On 10-15-21, 914United celebrated what they call “The Freedom Dinner” - a black tie affair in honor of our Co-founder & Executive Director Jonathan Alvarez’s 3rd year anniversary of being a free person 🥳🥂🥳🥂
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Jonathan has served a 15-year prison sentence from the age of 17 to 30 - and returned home on 10-15-18 and has crossed many milestones since then.
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The Freedom Dinner speaks not only to his post-release successes but to the continuous growth and progress of 914United, his team and close ones who supported his vision throughout the process.
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This celebration will be the first of many more.
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Next year on 10-15-22, we would be launching the “Freedom Gala” to assemble public officials, community members, nonprofit leaders, & local entrepreneurs to celebrate the formerly incarcerated who are successfully leading professional and entrepreneurial roles in their communities - the many men and women who served time and have rebranded the meaning of life after prison. All too often the narrative associated with returning citizens have negative meaning and do not tell the whole story.
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The Freedom Gala will challenge that narrative and elevate the successful Reentry stories that most do not hear about.
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914United will work to make this an annual event - and ultimately a holiday called Freedom Day.
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Cheers to our Co-founder and many individuals who share a similar story!
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Huge Shout out to our video creator: @andrecre8369 ! Thank you for your creative work - this video captured every amazing moment!
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#freedom #dinner #freedomdinner #914freedomdinner #gala #914United #freedomday #successful #formerlyincarcerated #Lifeafterprison #celebration #blacktie #affair #greatvibes #changeagents #changenarratives #realmodels #reentrymentors
The Marathon Continues 🏁
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We’re gearing up for our “Real Modeling” mentoring groups with @childrensvllg - to discuss the significant role of Real Models - not role models - in our communities.
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Our goal is to inspire a mindset shift among the youth who’ve been misled for too long. We don’t care if it’s one youth we save - as long as we save one.
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S/o to @_b00t5 for making the collaboration with Children Village!!
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More mentoring groups to come!!
#reenty #mentors #real #models #mentors #matter #mentees #matter
#westchester #yonkers
‼️‼️ REGISTRATION FOR THE NEXT Tech Skills for Success classes (TSS) ARE NOW OPEN ‼️‼️
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Next class will begin 11/13/2021. Limited seats are available.
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Details:
This program provides technology education to help participants better navigate the increasingly digital world while also equipping them with the computer skills necessary for employment and everyday life. The current cohort at 914United provides a small group setting, serving a group with fifteen hours of education on the Google platform including project-based work that applies to real work scenarios. The program also focuses on understanding computer basics, using word processing software, navigating the internet, using search engines and email, operating hardware and devices, staying safe online, and learning the benefits of mobile technology such as smartphones and tablets. Participants also leave the program with access to an independent online learning portal for Microsoft platform certifications, a free laptop and 1 year of free wifi!
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Thank you Amy Kramer, President, AT&T New, Margaret Käufer, President of The STEM Alliance for joining us in celebrating the first graduating cohort. Also thank you Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (@andreastewartcousins) and Assemblyman Steve Otis (@steveotis91), who joined to celebrate as well! Looking forward to the continued partnership with @thestemalliance & @att !!
Co-Founders, Jonathan Alvarez and John Cabrera, were two of the five amazing panelists of local Hispanic entrepreneurs & community leaders who spoke yesterday at the Yonkers Public Library (YPL) to assist City Council President Mike Khader launch the 2-Day Job Expo, "Connecting You to Your New Future.”
They shared their lived experiences and inspirational stories that led them to their journey today and discussed the importance of having connections with mentors to build a stronger future.
Amongst the panelists were Lucria Ortiz, President and CEO of Yonkers Family YMCA, Joanna Jimenez, Deputy Director Harlem Community Justice Center, Julia Carias-Linares, CEO Freedom of Studios, Entrepreneur, Actress and TV Producer.
@mikejkhader, Thank you for having us - we are honored to be present.
Learn more about todays Job Expo located at YPL and what to expect by following YPL on Facebook!
@yonkerspubliclibrary
#hispanicheritagemonth #westchesternonprofit #914United #wegotus #youngentrepreneurs #jobexpo #yourenotalone #yonkersNY
